Concrete core for cementing plugs

ABSTRACT

A well plug, comprising a cylindrical body, a plurality of cylindrical fins encircling the cylindrical body, a concrete core disposed within the cylindrical body and a locking feature disposed in the concrete core and configured to lock with an adjacent well plug.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/828,818, filed Apr. 3, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if set forth herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to oil field equipment, and more specifically to a concrete core for a cementing plug.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plugs for wells are known in the art, but are complex and require specific configurations of components to provide desired functions. A single plug for all applications would not be optimal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A well plug is disclosed that includes a cylindrical body and a plurality of cylindrical fins encircling the cylindrical body. A concrete core is disposed within the cylindrical body and a locking feature is disposed in the concrete core. The locking feature is configured to lock with an adjacent well plug.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings may be to scale, but emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a plug with a concrete core, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a plug with a concrete core, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a plug with a cylindrical concrete core, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a plug with a cylindrical concrete core, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a plug with a cylindrical concrete core and fins, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a plug with a cylindrical concrete core and fins, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a system for running plugs into a well bore, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawing figures may be to scale and certain components can be shown in generalized or schematic form and identified by commercial designations in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

Plugs are used in wells for various purposes, such as to seal a well or to seal a zone of a well. In some situations, it is necessary to drill through a plug, such as when a zone of a well has been fractured and a new zone of the well is being drilled. Standard plugs for oil wells, gas wells and other well bore structures currently utilize aluminum or composite cores that are difficult to drill through and expensive to form or mold. The present disclosure provides a concrete core that eliminates these problems with prior art well plug cores. The concrete provides a core with high compression force that is easily drilled through during the drill out process. The concrete core is also significantly easier and less expensive to produce than standard aluminum or composite cores that are used in the industry. The disclosed embodiments provide a solution that includes an economical core that can be easily manufactured and easily drilled out.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a plug 100 with a concrete core, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Plug 100 includes cylindrical fins 102, which allow plug 100 to be inserted into a well bore and which separate fluids and wipe the casing from subsequent fluids. A cylindrical body with concrete core 104 is used to provide structural integrity and durability. Non-rotating feature 106 is provided in the center of plug 100, where it is subjected to lower stress but where it will be at the center of any subsequent drilling activity after plug 100 is installed in a well. Non-rotating feature 106 is optional. Face 108 is used to provide a force to push plug 100 into the well bore.

While concrete cores are disclosed herein, other suitable cores can also or alternatively be used, such as masonry cores, composite materials or other suitable materials. The objective is to provide a core that is made from materials that do not cause damage to other well systems components, that can be flushed out of the well bore and that can be drilled through to allow the plug to be removed. The well plug must also provide a pressure barrier, such that a series of solid core plugs may be desirable in some embodiments, depending on the material that is used to form the solid cores.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a plug 200 with a concrete core, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Plug 200 includes cylindrical fins, which allow plug 200 to be inserted into a well bore and which separate fluids and wipe the casing from subsequent fluids. A cylindrical body concrete core material 202 is used to provide structural integrity and durability. Non-rotating feature 204 is provided in the center of plug 200, where it is subjected to lower stress but where it will be at the center of any subsequent drilling activity after plug 200 is installed in a well. Face 208 is used to provide a force to push plug 200 into the well bore. Non-rotating feature 206 is provided on face 208 in the center of plug 200, where it is subjected to lower stress but where it will be at the center of any subsequent drilling activity after plug 200 is installed in a well. Non-rotating feature 206 can lock with non-rotating feature 106 of an adjacent plug 100, non-rotating feature 204 of an adjacent plug 200 or other suitable devices, to provide resistance to rotation during the drill out process. Non-rotating feature 206 is optional.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a plug 300 with a cylindrical concrete core, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Plug 300 includes a cylindrical core with a top section 302, which flares outward across flaring section 304 from inner diameter 306. Cylindrical fins 308, which similarly flare from an inner diameter over section 308, allow plug 300 to be inserted into a well bore and which separate fluids and wipe the casing from debris and subsequent fluids as plug 300 is inserted into the well bore. A concrete core is used to provide structural integrity and durability. Non-rotating feature 312 is provided in the center of plug 300, and has eight scalloped sections that surround a penetration. These scalloped sections are locking sub-features that are configured to interface with locking sub-features of an adjacent plug, and can be smooth, angled, regular, irregular, pyramidal-shaped, chevrons, or other suitable shapes that facilitate interlocking. Non-rotating feature 312 is subjected to lower stress but is at the center of any subsequent drilling activity after plug 300 is installed in a well, which allows it to be more easily drilled out. Non-rotating feature 312 is optional.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a plug 400 with a cylindrical concrete core, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Plug 400 includes cylindrical fins, which allow plug 400 to be inserted into a well bore and which separate fluids and wipe the casing from debris and subsequent fluids. A concrete core material 404 is used to provide structural integrity and durability. Non-rotating feature 406 is provided in the center of plug 400, where it is subjected to lower stress but where it will be at the center of any subsequent drilling activity after plug 400 is installed in a well. Face 402 is used to provide a force to push plug 400 into the well bore. Non-rotating feature 406 is provided on the bottom in the center of plug 400, where it is subjected to lower stress but where it will be at the center of any subsequent drilling activity after plug 400 is installed in a well. Non-rotating feature 406 can lock with a non-rotating feature of an adjacent plug 400, non-rotating feature 204 of an adjacent plug 200 or other suitable devices, to provide resistance to rotation during the drill out process. Non-rotating feature 406 is optional.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a plug 500 with a cylindrical concrete core and fins, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Plug 500 includes top section 502, which flares outward across flaring section 504 from inner diameter 506. Cylindrical fins 508, which similarly flare from an inner diameter over section 508, allow plug 500 to be inserted into a well bore and which separate fluids and wipe the casing from debris and subsequent fluids as plug 500 is inserted into the well bore. A concrete core is used to provide structural integrity and durability. Non-rotating feature 512 is provided in the center of plug 500, and has eight scalloped sections that surround a penetration. These scalloped sections are locking sub-features that are configured to interface with locking sub-features of an adjacent plug, and can be smooth, angled, regular, irregular, pyramidal-shaped, chevrons, or other suitable shapes that facilitate interlocking. Non-rotating feature 512 is subjected to lower stress but is at the center of any subsequent drilling activity after plug 500 is installed in a well, which allows it to be more easily drilled out. Non-rotating feature 512 is optional.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a plug 600 with a cylindrical concrete core and fins, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Plug 600 includes cylindrical fins, which allow plug 600 to be inserted into a well bore and which separate fluids and wipe the casing from subsequent fluids. A concrete core material 610 is used to provide structural integrity and durability. Non-rotating feature 604 is provided in the center of plug 600, where it is subjected to lower stress but where it will be at the center of any subsequent drilling activity after plug 600 is installed in a well. Face 602 is used to provide a force to push plug 600 into the well bore. Non-rotating feature 604 is provided on face 602 in the center of plug 600, where it is subjected to lower stress but where it will be at the center of any subsequent drilling activity after plug 600 is installed in a well. Non-rotating feature 604 can lock with non-rotating feature 106 of an adjacent plug 100, non-rotating feature 204 of an adjacent plug 200 or other suitable devices, to provide resistance to rotation during the drill out process. Rupture disk 606 can be provided to allow plug 600 to be run first and then ruptured to allow fluid to flow through while a solid core plug such as plug 300 is being pumped down on top of it. Rupture disk 606 does not change the drill out, and allows drilling fluid to be circulated so that the solid plug can run through the casing and land on top of plug 600. Rupture disk 606, channel 608 and chamber 612 form a passageway through plug 600, to facilitate drilling out plug 600 after it is installed. Non-rotating feature 604 is optional.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a system 700 for running plugs into a well bore casing 704, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. System 700 includes solid plug 702A, hollow core plug 704B and one or more additional plugs, such as hollow core plug 702N. The one or more additional plugs can be solid or hollow core, as desired, but will typically be at least one hollow core plug at the top of the chain of plugs. Depending on the pressures at either end of the plug chain, additional hollow core plugs can be provided to increase the pressure withstand capability. The interlocking features of each plug of system 700 provides system 700 with increased rotational stability, and helps to prevent a condition where a drill bit penetrates partially through a first solid core plug and then causes the solid core plug to spin, which can impede or prevent the drill from drilling out the solid core plug. By providing a number of intervening hollow core plugs, the ease and ability of the plugs to be drilled out is improved.

In operation, system 700 can be installed by assembling the series of plugs at the wellhead entry into wellbore 704, where the plugs can be aligned to improve interlocking. In this manner, configuration of the plug chain in the field can be obtained, providing the ability of the plug chain to be optimized for the specific conditions in well bore casing 704.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and “between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as “between about X and Y” mean “between about X and about Y.” As used herein, phrases such as “from about X to Y” mean “from about X to about Y.”

As used herein, “hardware” can include a combination of discrete components, an integrated circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, or other suitable hardware. As used herein, “software” can include one or more objects, agents, threads, lines of code, subroutines, separate software applications, two or more lines of code or other suitable software structures operating in two or more software applications, on one or more processors (where a processor includes one or more microcomputers or other suitable data processing units, memory devices, input-output devices, displays, data input devices such as a keyboard or a mouse, peripherals such as printers and speakers, associated drivers, control cards, power sources, network devices, docking station devices, or other suitable devices operating under control of software systems in conjunction with the processor or other devices), or other suitable software structures. In one exemplary embodiment, software can include one or more lines of code or other suitable software structures operating in a general purpose software application, such as an operating system, and one or more lines of code or other suitable software structures operating in a specific purpose software application. As used herein, the term “couple” and its cognate terms, such as “couples” and “coupled,” can include a physical connection (such as a copper conductor), a virtual connection (such as through randomly assigned memory locations of a data memory device), a logical connection (such as through logical gates of a semiconducting device), other suitable connections, or a suitable combination of such connections. The term “data” can refer to a suitable structure for using, conveying or storing data, such as a data field, a data buffer, a data message having the data value and sender/receiver address data, a control message having the data value and one or more operators that cause the receiving system or component to perform a function using the data, or other suitable hardware or software components for the electronic processing of data.

In general, a software system is a system that operates on a processor to perform predetermined functions in response to predetermined data fields. A software system is typically created as an algorithmic source code by a human programmer, and the source code algorithm is then compiled into a machine language algorithm with the source code algorithm functions, and linked to the specific input/output devices, dynamic link libraries and other specific hardware and software components of a processor, which converts the processor from a general purpose processor into a specific purpose processor. This well-known process for implementing an algorithm using a processor should require no explanation for one of even rudimentary skill in the art. For example, a system can be defined by the function it performs and the data fields that it performs the function on. As used herein, a NAME system, where NAME is typically the name of the general function that is performed by the system, refers to a software system that is configured to operate on a processor and to perform the disclosed function on the disclosed data fields. A system can receive one or more data inputs, such as data fields, user-entered data, control data in response to a user prompt or other suitable data, and can determine an action to take based on an algorithm, such as to proceed to a next algorithmic step if data is received, to repeat a prompt if data is not received, to perform a mathematical operation on two data fields, to sort or display data fields or to perform other suitable well-known algorithmic functions. Unless a specific algorithm is disclosed, then any suitable algorithm that would be known to one of skill in the art for performing the function using the associated data fields is contemplated as falling within the scope of the disclosure. For example, a message system that generates a message that includes a sender address field, a recipient address field and a message field would encompass software operating on a processor that can obtain the sender address field, recipient address field and message field from a suitable system or device of the processor, such as a buffer device or buffer system, can assemble the sender address field, recipient address field and message field into a suitable electronic message format (such as an electronic mail message, a TCP/IP message or any other suitable message format that has a sender address field, a recipient address field and message field), and can transmit the electronic message using electronic messaging systems and devices of the processor over a communications medium, such as a network. One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to provide the specific coding for a specific application based on the foregoing disclosure, which is intended to set forth exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and not to provide a tutorial for someone having less than ordinary skill in the art, such as someone who is unfamiliar with programming or processors in a suitable programming language. A specific algorithm for performing a function can be provided in a flow chart form or in other suitable formats, where the data fields and associated functions can be set forth in an exemplary order of operations, where the order can be rearranged as suitable and is not intended to be limiting unless explicitly stated to be limiting.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. One or more features may be modified or omitted, where suitable. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A well plug, comprising: a cylindrical body; a plurality of cylindrical fins encircling the cylindrical body; a concrete core disposed within the cylindrical body; and a locking feature disposed in the concrete core and configured to lock with an adjacent well plug.
 2. The well plug of claim 1 wherein the locking feature further comprises a plurality of locking sub-features.
 3. The well plug of claim 1 wherein the locking sub-features comprise a scalloped shape.
 4. The well plug of claim 1 wherein the locking sub-features comprise eight scalloped shapes disposed around a circumference of a cavity.
 5. The well plug of claim 1 wherein the locking sub-features comprise an angled feature.
 6. A well plug, comprising: a cylindrical body; a plurality of cylindrical fins encircling the cylindrical body; a concrete core disposed within the cylindrical body; a cavity disposed in the concrete core along an axis of the cylindrical body; and a locking feature disposed at a first end in the concrete core and configured to lock with an adjacent well plug.
 7. The well plug of claim 6 further comprising a second locking feature disposed at a second end in the concrete core.
 8. The well plug of claim 6 wherein the locking feature further comprises a plurality of locking sub-features.
 9. The well plug of claim 6 wherein the locking sub-features comprise a scalloped shape.
 10. The well plug of claim 6 wherein the locking sub-features comprise eight scalloped shapes disposed around a circumference of a cavity.
 11. The well plug of claim 6 wherein the locking sub-features comprise an angled feature.
 12. A well plug system, comprising: a solid concrete core well plug with a locking feature; a hollow concrete core well plug with a locking feature; and wherein the locking feature of the solid concrete core well plug interlocks with the locking feature of the hollow concrete core well plug.
 13. The well plug system of claim 12 wherein the hollow concrete core well plug comprises a cylindrical body.
 14. The well plug system of claim 13 wherein the hollow concrete core well plug comprises a plurality of cylindrical fins encircling the cylindrical body.
 15. The well plug system of claim 13 wherein the hollow concrete core well plug comprises a concrete core disposed within the cylindrical body.
 16. The well plug system of claim 15 wherein the hollow concrete core well plug comprises a cavity disposed in the concrete core along an axis of the cylindrical body.
 17. The well plug system of claim 12 wherein the hollow concrete core well plug comprises a second locking feature disposed at a second end in the concrete core.
 18. The well plug system of claim 12 wherein the locking feature of the solid concrete core well plug and the locking feature of the hollow concrete core well plug each comprise a plurality of locking sub-features.
 19. The well plug system of claim 18 wherein the locking sub-features comprise a scalloped shape.
 20. The well plug system of claim 18 wherein the hollow concrete core well plug comprises a rupture disk disposed in a hollow core. 